Apparatus for feeding and forming articles



March 15, 1960 A. J. CIHLAR EIAL 2,928,453

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 //w z/vroes Addy/V4 14E AWL (A556 March 15, 1960 A. J. CIHLAR EIAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ARTICLES 5. Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 March 15, 1960 A. J. CIHLAR EI'AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A /m W A. J. CIHLAR ETAL March 15, 1960 2,928,453

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 15, 1960 A. J. CIHLAR EI'AL 2, ,4

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND FORMING ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 29, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 5 J1 l l /I I 7 m l 73 /e/-j A:v MM #5 ////////%Z//% /s-7 /.r/ Z4 24 Q.C. M 2,

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ANn FORMING ARTICLES Anthony J. Cihlar, Riverside, and Frank A. Klasek, La

Grange Park, Ill., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York -Original application December 29, 1954, Serial No.

478,336. Divided and this application ctober25, 1956, Serial No. 618,333 .7

8 Claims. 01. 155-45 This invention relates to apparatus for feeding and forming articles, and more particularly to apparatus for feeding combs of wire spring relays and bending wires of wire spring relay combs.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 478,336, filed December29, 1954, entitled Methods of Forming Articles, now Patent No. 2,834,393.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for bending terminal portions of wire spring relay combs. I

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for feeding articles, such as, for example, combs of wire spring relays. 1-

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for feeding wire spring relay combs along a predetermined path and moving the combs downwardly into operative engagement with wire bending elements.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing one of the wire-bending crank arms inoperative position and indicating in dotted lines a wire bent by the crank arm through 90;

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is Ishown therein an apparatus for forming ends of wires 7,8 and 9 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) to horizontal right angle bends 11, the wires projecting beyond molded blocks 14 of wire spring relay combs 15-. The apparatus includes three formingstations 17, 18 and 19 (Fig. 1),

and the right angle bends 11 in the wires 7 are formed at the station 17, the right angle bends 11 in the wires 8 are formed at the station 18 and the right angle bends 11 in the wires 9 areformed at the station 19. The bends 11 in the wires 7 are formed around pins 21 projecting from a bed or bottom platen 22 of a tool unit 20 replaceable in a press 23. Pins 24 and 25 are similarly mounted on the bed 22 at the stations 18 and 19, respectively, for bending the wires 8 and 9, respectively. The wires are engaged and bent around the pins 21, 24 and 25 by dogs illustrated by a dog 28 (Figs. 3 and 7 to 9) mounted on projections 35 formed on crank arms 36. The projections or journals 35 on the crank arms 36 are rotatably supported in suitable apertures in a supporting plate 35a. The dogs 28 and the crank arms 36 are .mounted by a shaft 29' pivotally about the centers of Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for bending wires of a wire spring relay comb sequentially to form terminal ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for feeding articles from station to station of a device for bending wires sequentially to right angle positions.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a path along which wire spring relay combs may be slid by a feed bar and including a section resiliently mounted and depressible out of the plane of the remainder of the bed-to move the combs into working positions for operation of bending elements of a press. The bed is provided with a plurality of stop pawls permitting the combs to be slid thereover in one direction only, and a plurality of pawls carried by the feed bar are provided for feeding the combs in one direction only. Means also may be provided on the depressible portion of the feed bed for orienting the wire spring relay combs thereon and for clamping the combs.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of an apparatus forming specific embodiments thereof, when. read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in' which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of an apparatus for practicing a method forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of a wire spring relay comb in several stages of forming;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlargedsectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 7--7 of Fig. 3 and show ing the wire-bending mechanism with portions thereof in raised position; v

Fig.8 is an enlarged fragmentarybottom plan vie of the wire-bending .mechanismshowing ,wire-bending crank arms in their normal inoperative position; and i the projections 350n an upper platen 37 of the tool unit20. 1 "1 7 The combs 15.are fed from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a feed bar adjustably fastened by a connector 61 to a piston rod 62 of a piston 63 mountedin a pneumatic cylinder 64 controlled by a suitable four-way. valve (not shown). The cylinder 64 and the piston 63' reciprocate the rod 62, and, each time the rod 62 is re-.

ciprocated, feed pawls 65 engage and push the blocks of the combs 15 to the left a distance just sufficient to move,

the combs from one station to the next. Each time the feed bar 60 is retracted, the pawls 65 ride over the combs 15 without moving the combs, the combs being held against movement back with the feed bar by holding pawls 71 mounted on a resiliently mounted plate 72 and pawls 73 mounted on a fixed plate 74.

After each feeding movement and retraction of the, bar 60, the press 23 .is operated and an upper platen 81 thereof carrying the platen 37 is moved downwardly to move the plate 72 against springs 79 through push rods 82 downwardly out of the plane of the plate 74. and .a feeding station plate 75. The springs 79 are mounted on rods 83 slidable in bores 84, and areseated in coun terbores 85 in a fixed base plate 86 to which the lower l platen 22 is secured. The combs 15 are pressed against the plate .72 by leaf springs 91, and the wires 7, 8 and 9 of the combs 15 are moved over the pins 21, 24 and 25.

Downward movement of the plate 72 is limited by 'ablock 92 which supports tapered locating pins 93 pro jecting into bores 94 in the plate '72. As the plate72 is moved downwardly from its uppermost or feed position I to its lowermost or work position, the blocks 14 of the combs 15 carried thereby are moved over the pins 93, which enter close-fitting bores 97 to precisely and firmly locate the combs 15 on the plate 72. Three sets of presser rods 98, urged downwardly in bores 99 in the platen 81 by springs 160, are mounted in alignment with! the pins 93 and receive the tapered ends of the pins 93 in complementaiy sockets 101. The presser rods 98 aid the springs 91 in keeping the blocks 14 seated on the,

plate 72 as the plate'72 is lowered.

The feed bar 60'(Figs. 1 and 3 is supported by; a fixed, rigid guide rail 111 and pairs of tapered rollers' 112 mounted on bearings 113 and having tapered or 't'rusto-conical portions 114 rotatable along tapered upper stirfacesllS of the rail 1'11. The'roll'ers 112 are'inbmid Patented 'Mar. 15, 1960 rotatablyon plates 117' bracketing the rail 111 and fixed to the" feed bar 60 to formjra'trolley type suspension for the bar 60. The rail 111 isrigid, and is supp'orted at its ends by fixed brackets 121 and 122. The arcuate holddown springs 91' are-carried by brackets 123 fined to theplate 7 2jandfleaf spings l24 fixed to the feed bar 60 press againstthe bottom' of the rail 1 1 1 to urge the feed bar to a predetermined level limited by the rollers 112 and the rail 1,11. The springs 124 permit upward rnovement of the bar 60 by warped or'dislocated blocksf-ifiL-IThe upward-"movement of the plate 72 by V the springs' 79 is limitedhy lap joint type projections -The upper platen 3 7 o f'the press carries, by mount ing 'pins or bolts (not shown), assembly platesofr bar s- 141,142 and"143 (Fig. 3) thereon, which are urged downwardly away frorn'the, platen 37*by compression springs 144 (Fig. 7*) As theplaten 37 isfmoved down wardly, it moves the plate 72 downwardly to a stop 145 tomove the wires 7, 8 and 9 to the pins 21, 24 and 25,

recesses 151 being provided in a block 150 'on the platen 22 for clearance for the ends of the wires, which have downwardly directed bends 152 (Fig. 4) therein so that. they may travel under adjacent groups of wires as the 90 horizontal bends are formed therein. Supports 155, 156' and1 57 (Fig. 3) having slopingor relieved portions 158, 1 59 and 160 support the wires 7, 8 and 9 to keep the; wires from slipping downwardly out of'contact with the dogs after the dogs arebrought down into the planeof' the wires and are a'ctuatedto bend the wires aroundtthe, pins. 21, 24 and'25. The 'sloping' portions extend on two adjacent sides of the pins 21', 24. and 25 to sup port the wires throughout their bending movement;

The tool unit 20. (Fig.8) includes'a cam or wedge 1 81" carried with the platen 37 for pushing, when lowered,

a cam follower 182 (Fig. 7) to push a' horizontally movable actuating slide 184 along a'guideway 185 formed 'in the plate 143. The slide 184 is returned on the up stroke of the platen'byga spring 186 (Fig. 7). The slide 184 has a plurality of transversely'disposed grooves 187 (Figs. 7 to 9 for receiving the upwardly extending end portions of pins 189; mounted on the endsof the crank arms 36. Movement ofj the slide 184turns the crank 'arms 36 (Figs. 8 and 9 about the centers of the shafts 29 and the projections during the latter portion of v the downwardstroke of the platen to bend the wires 7,

8 and 9, engaged by the dogs 28, 90horizorita1ly around lhQ'Pll'lS 21, as described] more fully and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 478,337,'filed December 29, 1954. The plate 143 normally is urged downwardly away from the platen-37 by the springs 144, and as the'platen 37 starts back up, the plates '141, 142i and 143 remain down against theblock 150. until the cam 181 has retracted and the slide 184 hashreturned the crank arms 3610. their normal, wiresclearing posi' tions. Then the plates.1 41, 142 and143 are lifted upwardly fromthe block 150, and from the plate 72 by headedipins 201 extending upwardly from the plate 143 of, the combs Onestation to, the. left, 'as viewed in Fig. 2.

On the forward stroke of thefeedfban60, the furthermost right, comb 15 at the feed position is fed under the hqlsl o prin s?! o t t tion. n h f. the,- combs 15 are fed one, station to the=le ft. .On} the re spades 201 (l igs. 4, 5 and 6 formed thereon and the- 30 vertical bends 152 are made atprogressively farther points from the block 14 proceeding from the wires 7 to i the wires 9. The bends 152 also are-provided prior to the arrival at the pressfthat, as the bends 11 are formed, v

thestationflflr to the; station. 18, from the-. stat-ion 18 to} thezs ation. 19 an from thestation -19 to the st tion to 'the left thereof. The press 23 is. reciprocated between each feedingmovement, On each downward.

inovernenj; of the. platen 81,, the, rods 82 first pushthe' 7 plate 72 againstfthefs top 145 and the p1ate:141;.(Fig,. 3) against the block 150.. The rods98 push the blocks 14 down on the alignment pins 93 (Fig. 2) to precisely locate'the combs 15, andv the wires 7, 8 and 9 rest on the supports-155, 156= and1157 in the recesses 151., On, furthend'ownward' movement of the platen 81,;the cam- 181 ac'tufatcs the actuating slide 184 to swing the crank arms 36t0 bend the wires 7, 8 and 9 to formthe 90 horizontal bends 11, the spades 201 and end portions of the wiresswingin'g under the wires 205 and 206 as the bonds are formed. The supports 155, 156 and 157 support. the wires as the bends 11- are formed. The

bends 11 in-the wires 7 are formed at the station 17, those in the wires 8 at the station 18 and those in the *wires 9 st the station 19. 1

,.After the combs IShaVe-been moved out of the press 23, another press (not shown) forms bends correpondingto the bends 11 in the wires 205and206 after 30 bends borrespondingthe bends 152 have been made. An other press-'(not shown)- then bends-the wires 7, 8, 9; 205 and206-"to make the bends 152 90. By'first forming the 3 0" bendsrather than the full 90rvertical bends, the'wires may bebent into the 90 horizontal bends 11 without" slippage on the wires by. the bending dogs,-

' Y which is of particular importance in bending the wires 7 where. a very. short horizontal-portion-"projectsbeyond the bends 11. By bending the wires 7, 8 .and 9fat difierent stations and the wires 205 and 206in a different press sufiicient space is provided to make the bending elements rugged and durable.

The above-described apparatus rapidly formsrthe s'everal bends very accurately, and feeds the cornbssurely and precisely. 7

'It is tobe understood thatthe-above-describedarrange ments are simply illustrative of the application of; the principles of'the invention. Numerous other arrange ments may be readily devised by those skilled in'the art ,which will, embody the principles of the invention and fall'within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is: e

1-.,An article-handling apparatus, which comprisesa base, a horizontal feedbed secured'to said base and having a central portion depressible, from a feed position to awork position, rail means spaced above and extending along the bed, ratchet feed means movable along the rail; means for indexing articles along said bed, a plurality of" pins secured to said'base for entering holes in articles as Operatiom T 01 1 5 15gp ion toarrival at the press 23', have the articles are lowered with the central portion of the. feed bedto orient the articles, andvmeans for. pressing the articles and'the'c'entral portion of the feed. bed.

downwardly. I V V 2. An article-handling apparatus, which .coinprisesla base, a horizontal feedbed. secured to said. base and hav- 7 ing a central portion depressible-from a feed position to a work position, rail means spaced above and extending. along the bed, ratchet feed means forindexing articles along; said, bed, trolley means movable, along the rail. means supporting the feed means, a plurality ofleaf' spring clamps carried by the central portion ofv the bed" for clamping articles to the central portion of the bed; a v

plurality of pins secured to saidbase fortentering holes in articles as the articles are lowered with the central portion of the feed bed to orient the articles on the bed, and means for pressing the articles and the central portion of the feed bed downwardly.

3. An apparatus for bending articles, which comprises a fixed vertically upstanding bending element, an articlesupporting plate extending transversely to and spaced from the bending element, means urging the plate to a retracted position relative to the bending element such that a portion to be bent of an article on the plate is retracted from the bending element, means for holding the article against the plate, a presser for pressing the plate to a work position such that said portion of the article is positioned adjacent to the bending element, a rotatable bending element carried with and operable by the presser for engaging said portion and bending said portion in cooperation with the fixed bending element, and means for advancing the article along the plate.

4. An apparatus for bending articles, which comprises a plurality of fixed vertically upstanding bending elements, an article-supporting plate extending transversely to and spaced from the bending elements, means urging the plate to a retracted position relative to the bending elements such that portions to be bent of articles on the plate are retracted from the bending elements, means for holding the articles against the plate, a presser for pressing the plate to a work position such that said portions of the articles are positioned adjacent to the bending elements, bending elements carried with and operable by the presser for engaging said portions and bending said portions around the first-mentioned bending elements after the plate has been moved to its work position, and means for advancing the articles step-by-step along the plate.

5. An apparatus for bending articles, which comprises a plurality of fixed vertically upstanding bending elements, an article-supporting plate extending transversely to and above the bending elements, means urging the plate upwardly to an upper position relative to the bending. elements such that portions to be bent of articles on the plate are above the bending elements, leaf springs carried by the plate for pressing the articles against the plate, a presser for pressing the plate downwardly to a lower position such that said portions of the articles are positioned adjacent to the bending element, bending elements carried with and operable by the presser for engaging said portions and bending said portions around the bottom bending elements after the plate has been moved to its lower position, a reciprocable feed bar extending above the plate, and a plurality of feed pawls carried by the feed bar for pushing the articles along the plate.

6. An apparatus for bending articles, which comprise a base, a plurality of fixed vertically upstanding bending elements mounted on said base, an article-supporting plate extending transversely'to and above the bending elements, means on said base for urging the plate upwardly to an upper position relative to the bending elements such that portions to be bent of articles on the plate are above the bending elements, leaf springscarried by the plate for pressing the articles against the plate, a presser for pressing the plate downwardly to a lower position such that said portions of the articles are positioned adjacent to the bending elements, bending elements carried with and operable by the presser for engaging said portions and bendciprocable feed bar extending above the plate, a plurality of feed pawls carried by the feed bar, a plurality of stop pawls mounted on the plate, means carried by the presser for pressing the articles against the plate, and lining pins secured to said base for entering holes in the articles to locate them as the plate is moved to its lower position.

7. An apparatus for working articles, which comprises a base, a plurality of fixed vertically upstanding articleworking elements mounted on said base, an articlesupporting plate extending transversely to and spaced from the article-working elements, means on said base for urging the plate to a retracted position relative to the articleworking elements such that portions to be worked of articles on the plate are spaced from the article-working elements, means for pressing the supporting plate downwardly against the influence of the urging means to position said portions of the articles adjacent to the working elements, means for movingthe plate to a work position such that said portions of the articles are positioned adjacent to the article-working elements, means for advancing the articles along the plate including a reciprocable feed bar extending above the plate and a plurality of feed pawls carried by the feed bar, a plurality of stop pawls mounted on the plate, means carried by the presser for pressing the articles against the plate, and lining pinson said base for entering holes in the articles to locate them as the plate is moved to its lower position.

8. An apparatus for working articles, which comprises a base, a plurality of fixed vertically upstanding articleworking elements mounted on said base, an articlesupporting plate extending transversely to and above the article-working elements, means urging the plate upwardly to an upper position relative to the article-working elements such that portions to be worked of articles on the plate are above the article-working elements, leaf springs carried by the plate for holding thearticles against the plate, a presser for pressing the plate downwardly to a lower position such that said portions of the articles are positioned adjacent to the article-working elements, article-working elements carried with and operable by the presser for engaging said portions and working said portions around the bottom article-working elements after the plate has been moved to its lower position, a recipro cable feed bar extending above the plate, a plurality of feed pawls carried by the feed bar, a plurality of stop pawls mounted on the plate, means carried by the presser for pressing the articles against the plate, and lining'pins secured to said base for entering holes in the articles to locate them as the plate is moved to its lower position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,031,605 Wing July 2, 1912 1,805,219 Matteson May 12, "1931 1,878,201 Sundback Sept. 20, 1932 2,302,878 Muhl Nov. 24, 1942 2,428,115 Howard Sept. 30, 1947 2,592,276 Hackbarth Apr. 8, 1952 2,661,523 Houck Dec. 8, 1953 2,691,956 Jne Oct. 19, 1954 

